Organisors of the annual Spar Kirkwood Wildsfees says more than 45 thousand people went through the turnstile over the past weekend.
The good turn-out was attributed to a combination of perfect weather and a number of entertainment firsts for the festival, now into its 15th year.
Festival director, Jenni Honsbein, says this year's attendance was beyond expectations, given the poor local economy and the Springbok game against Ireland having taken place on the same weekend.
Honsbein says organisers of the annual game auction were also pleased with the turnover of R9m.
Despite the rugby the Saturday night entertainers played to a capacity crowd, with many describing the night as the “best ever” at a SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees.
With temperatures remaining relatively high even at night the fans stayed right to the end, according to Honsbein.
Sunday’s crowd, which started arriving from nine in the morning also enjoyed the music until the final curtain after four in the afternoon.
Organisers of the annual game auction were also pleased with the turnover of R9 million.
The top price was R400000 for a four-year-old buffalo cow from the Addo Elephant National Park with an approximate horn size of 29” which is expected to calf soon.
Other high prices were R125000 for a buffalo bull, R116000 for a bontebok ram, R95000 for a sable bull and R85000 for a kudu bull from the Addo Elephant National Park.
The prices were described as “realistic” by auction organiser Johan Swart, who said all the quality animals were sold.
Plans are already taking shape for the 2017 SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees, according to Honsbein.
